The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 15, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

Are you looking for a way to stay afloat in a seemingly never-ending sea of science-fiction, fantasy and horror book releases? Fear not, intrepid reader! Check out this month's latest roundup of must-read speculative titles, which includes a centuries-long war, parallel worlds, alternate history, extinction-level events, hackers, and what really happened in Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Sure, reading fiction stories are fun. Especially science-fiction stories, where readers get to experience space travel, alternate histories, thought-provoking premises regarding technology and how it affects society, and a host of other high-concept ideas. But take a step back. Science fiction as a literary field is interesting, too, as evidenced by the following nonfiction books about different aspects of the genre.

When you read a lot, you begin to notice certain patterns because writers often revisit the same tropes that have already been visited by other writers. That's not necessarily a bad thing—there are many different ways to tell a story. But if you're looking for something different anyway, you could do a lot worse than to pick up any of the following unique-sounding books which are out this month:

A fun perennial activity for readers is comparing a book to its television or theatrical adaptation. Besides getting to see their favorite stories in a whole new way, readers can see and discuss what changed, what stayed the same, what was egregiously omitted and what was incomprehensibly added. It's also an excuse to read books in the first place. To that end, here's the latest roundup of books being turned into television shows and films. All of the ...

This month's roundup of speculative fiction reads includes time travelers on the run, an off-world murder mystery, a thriller that puts science up against theology, flintlock fantasy, steampunk adventure, and alternate worlds.

WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Everyone is chasing after a powerful artifact known as the Horn of Osius, an ancient relic capable of controlling dragons. Who is everyone? The Dark Elves; Desstra, a conflicted Dark Elf training to join their elite ranks; and Karn ...

It's hard to not be amazed at the sheer volume of short fiction stories that are professionally published each year. Even if you only consider the speculative fiction genres—science fiction, fantasy and horror—the number is still quite impressive. Readers are exposed to sf/f/h stories throughout the year in various venues, including print magazines, online magazines, as well as a steady stream of single-author collections and multi-author anthologies that are published annually. Trying to read each and every ...

I always find it interesting how people come to start reading science fiction. Many people start because someone in their life directed them to do so, either by recommending a specific science-fiction book or handing it to them directly. Others might start because they enjoy science fiction in other media, like films and TV, and want to experience science fiction in written form. Still others might start by chance; they stumble across a book sitting in the library or on ...

There are still plenty of speculative fiction books finding their way to your TV screen and local theater. This month's roundup of speculative fiction books being adapted for film and television includes...

The subtitle of Wicked tells you everything you need to know about what it's about: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. McGuire's inventive look at the antagonist from L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz ...

LATEST RECIPIENT OFTHE KIRKUS STAR

General readers looking for a challenge will love this book and will dive into Blake's work. Many will find him just too far off the beam, but they, too, will enjoy the many color illustrations included in the text.

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